Tennessee coaching search: Day 10

Tennessee coaching search: Day 10

Tennessee coaching search: Day 10

KNOXVILLE – Tennessee is in its tenth day of a coaching search to replace offensive coordinator Tyson Helton who departed for Western Kentucky’s head coaching job.

Former Ole Miss head coach Hugh Freeze was a strong candidate last Friday and a deal was not completed – creating uncertainty for him during the second week within UT’s search.

Vols Wire has learned this week that Freeze has other opportunities in the coaching profession and remains to be seen where he may land.

Vols Wire has been told Wednesday night that Troy head coach Neal Brown ultimately wants a Power 5 head coaching job down the road, but money could be a reason to leave a Group of 5 head coaching position for an offensive coordinator position at Tennessee.

Vols Wire was told Wednesday that Brown’s strong relationship with UT Director of Football Operations Todd Watson could be a green light in UT’s direction, but remains to be seen if Brown will make a move to make more money for what could be a two-year OC transition before leaving for a Power 5 head coaching position, or wait and see if there is a Power 5 HC job after the 2019 season after staying at Troy.

Vols Wire discussed Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich with two sources in Stillwater Wednesday night. Both said Yurcich is loyal to Mike Gundy, however money could finally be of interest. He has held his position since 2013 after coming from Shippensburg.

Both sources said that Yurcich has a desire in becoming a head coach at a MAC school. One source discussed Yurcich and the Tennessee job at the Cowboys’ basketball game Wednesday night at Tulsa, saying the OSU offensive coordinator has a big recruiting weekend ahead and things may not move quick with him if Tennessee is realistically a possibility.

Houston associate head coach and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles received a new three-year contract worth $2.1 million this week. One source with knowledge of Houston told Vols Wire that it is not easy to work with head coach Major Applewhite, but was not sure if that factored into Briles actually leaving.

First-year Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer is another name Vols Wire has been told about within the second week of UT’s search. Schottenheimer served as Georgia’s offensive coordinator in 2015 when Jeremy Pruitt was defensive coordinator.

Alabama quarterbacks coach Dan Enos also remains a possibility to join Pruitt’s staff, but also could very well stay with Alabama.

One of Enos’ former players at Cincinnati, who currently works for Mark Dantonio at Michigan State – who asked to remain anonymous – discussed Enos with Vols Wire, saying “Tennessee would be getting a great guy, a great recruiter and a great coach.”